There’s been a recent spate of new books about the feeding of children that are so good I actually feel a little sad when I read them: I feel certain they would have saved me from many a feeding pitfall if they’d only been around when my kids were little. In that select category I’d put Karen Le Billion’s French Kids Eat Everything, Natalie Digate Muth’s Eat Your Vegetables and Other Mistakes Parents Make: Redefining How to Raise Healthy Eaters, and now today’s reviewed book, Fearless Feeding: How to Raise Healthy Eaters from High Chair to High School, written by Jill Castle and Maryann Jacobsen.
Castle is a registered dietitian who blogs at Just the Right Byte and Jacobsen, also an RD, blogs at Raise Healthy Eaters. In Fearless Feeding these two experts (and parents) join forces, starting with the premise that feeding kids in today’s world is more challenging than ever and the source of much parental anxiety. Their mission, then, is to “calm and empower parents, provid[ing] step-by-step feeding guidance at every child development stage and teach parents the skills they need to get healthy meals on the table fast.”
That’s a tall order, but Castle and Jacobsen deliver in spades. In fact, Fearless Feeding might be the most comprehensive child nutrition and feeding book I’ve ever come across, with mountains of useful information presented in an organized, easy-to-use, chart-filled format. Readers will find everything from: age-specific feeding advice; guidance on talking about nutrition with children in an age-appropriate way; sections on the really tough problems like eating disorders, allergies, and picky eating; a chapter devoted to meal planning and shopping; charts showing sources of key nutrients, appropriate portion sizes and when produce is in season and how to prepare it; lists of healthy snack and lunch ideas; and much more.
What I liked most about the book is that it doesn’t shy away from addressing the real-life challenges that can trip up the best-intentioned parent, whether it’s the growing influence of peers as a child moves into elementary school, the “I don’t need your advice” attitude of the high schooler, or the scheduling conflicts that can make healthy, communal eating seem impossible. The book also includes an important chapter in which parents are asked to examine their own eating behaviors and attitudes, which are sometimes at the heart of the difficulties they experience in feeding their own kids.
Not to sound like a late night infomercial, but if you could own only one book about the feeding of children, I can’t think of a more useful resource than Fearless Feeding. And one lucky Lunch Tray reader will win a free copy just by leaving a comment below by 6pm CST, Friday, August 16th. You can tell me why you’d like to win or you can just say hi. I’ll use a random number generator after the comment period closes to select one lucky winner and if you comment twice (e.g., to respond to another reader’s comment), I’ll use the number of your first comment to enter you in the drawing. I’ll email you directly if you win and announce the winner on TLT’s Facebook page, too. (This giveaway is open only to U.S. residents.)
Good luck!
[Blogger disclosure: As with most of my book reviews, I received a free copy of this book for my perusal but I never accept any other form of compensation for the book reviews you see on The Lunch Tray.]
[Editorial update 3/6/2019 – I changed the links and photo in this post to reflect the fact that Fearless Feeding has been updated and re-issued. Yay!)
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Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2013 Bettina Elias Siegel
Ayisha says
I would love to learn more about how to get my picky boy to eat more!
Rhonda says
Would love, love, LOVE a copy!
Brandon Stratford says
I do research on child nutrition and would love to add this to my reading list.
Martha says
I feed 300 children a day in my school food meals program I would love the information in this book!
Adina P says
Send it here!
Elaine Dusetzina says
I would love to learn more about improving my child’s nutrition. Thanks for the review. If I don’t win the book, will likely purchase it.
Brenda says
I have followed Maryann’s blog for several years now and would love to check out this new book!
Jen L says
I’ve been wanting to buy this book!
Leslie says
I’d love to win this, as I have one of those “I don’t need your advice” high schoolers! 🙂
Debbie says
I’d love to win because I can use all the help I can get when it comes to feeding my children.
Amy P says
Trying to raise clean eaters in a processed world is hard! Would love any help I can get.
Emma K says
Oh this sounds like an AMAZING book!
Ali Girten says
Can’t wait to read!
Laura says
Looks like a great book!
Jen says
I’d love to read this!
Alyssa says
Always looking for better ways to feed our family. Sounds like the perfect read!
Mom in NJ says
Sounds like an enjoyable, useful book!
Jill says
Can’t find this at the library so would love to win it.
Claire H says
Sounds wonderful! I could use some more support as we help our boy eat a better variety of food.
Tina says
Hi Bettina!
Amber Fisher-McKone says
Fearless Feeding sounds great, I would love a copy!
Kat Holt says
Would love to read this!
Liesel Seryak says
I would love to win the book! Thanks for the review and giveaway.
Kelsey says
I’m fascinated by books like these, and am always interested in learning different techniques and perspectives! Crossing my fingers for a random lucky draw 🙂
kate says
I would LOVE to have a copy. My son is a good eater now, but want to do everything I can do to help encourage a healthy relationship with food!!
Bettina Elias Siegel says
The entry period for this drawing is closed.